Sanremo by yacht, 17 nm from Monaco
The Italian Riviera begins — palms, a grand casino and the Ligurian light.
A yacht from Monaco to Sanremo covers about 17 nautical miles in a straight line: 1 h 25 min of cruising at 12 knots, 51 min at 20. Crewed days are published from €1,500 (day boat) to €10,000 and up (superyacht); a week on a 20–30 m motor yacht runs €25,000 – €65,000, plus APA of 25–35% and VAT at 20%.
Crossing into Italy, Sanremo brings a change of register: a belle-époque casino, palm-lined promenades and the first taste of Ligurian cooking. The modern Portosole marina welcomes larger yachts.
At about 17 miles it is the natural staging point for the longer run on to Portofino and the Cinque Terre.
What changes when the yacht crosses into Italy at Sanremo?
At around 17 nautical miles from Monaco, Sanremo is the first proper Italian stop heading east and an immediate change of register: a belle-époque casino, palm-lined promenades and the first real taste of Ligurian cooking. The modern Portosole marina welcomes larger yachts and makes a comfortable overnight. We handle the cross-border formalities so arriving in Italy is effortless.
Why is Sanremo the staging point for the Ligurian coast?
Sanremo is the natural launch point for the longer run on to Portofino, the Cinque Terre and the wider Ligurian Riviera. On a week-long charter it breaks the eastbound passage neatly, giving an evening ashore among the flower-market town's restaurants before the open-water leg the next day. It is where a Monaco charter becomes an Italian one.
The town itself rewards the stop: the old quarter of La Pigna winding up the hillside, the belle-époque casino, and a food culture — Ligurian focaccia, fresh pasta, seafood from the morning catch — that announces Italy at the table. After the polish of Monaco it is a welcome change of pace, and a reminder of how much the coast changes in just a few miles.
Where does a yacht berth in Sanremo?
Portosole, the modern marina on the eastern side of the town, is the harbour built for visiting yachts and the usual overnight on an eastbound week; the Porto Vecchio beside the old town is smaller and mostly local. Portosole puts the yacht a ten-minute walk from the casino and the Via Matteotti, with fuel and provisioning on the quay before the long open-water leg toward Portofino. Anchoring is possible off the town in settled weather, but on a week's charter the berth is worth having: Sanremo is the stop where guests dine ashore and the crew reprovision for Liguria.
What is there to do ashore in Sanremo?
Sanremo is Italy immediately. La Pigna, the medieval quarter, spirals up the hill above the old port in covered alleys and stairways to the Madonna della Costa sanctuary; the belle-époque casino of 1905 and the onion domes of the Russian Orthodox church of 1913 stand among the palms of the Corso Imperatrice. The Mercato Annonario is the morning market for Ligurian produce, and the restaurants of the port serve the focaccia, the fresh pasta and the fish that make the change of country obvious at the first meal. West of the town the old railway line has become a flat cycle path along the sea for twenty-four kilometres toward Ospedaletti and Bordighera — an easy hour for anyone who wants to stretch their legs before dinner.
How much does a yacht charter to Sanremo cost?
At 17 nm, Sanremo is a day charter: a crewed day is published from €1,500 (Pirelli 1100, excluding fuel) to €6,600 (Prestige 680) and €10,000 and up for a superyacht. As a stop on a longer charter the weekly brackets below apply.
| Yacht size | Weekly rate | APA (25–35%) |
|---|---|---|
| Motor yacht 20–30 m | €25,000 – €65,000 | €6,250 – €22,750 |
| Superyacht 30–40 m | €65,000 – €180,000 | €16,250 – €63,000 |
| Premium superyacht 40–45 m | €140,000 – €320,000 | €35,000 – €112,000 |
| Megayacht 45 m+ | €280,000 – €800,000+ | €70,000 – €280,000+ |
APA — 25–35% of the fee, median 35% across MYBA listings — covers fuel for the run to Sanremo, harbour dues, food and drink, and the balance is returned. VAT at the standard 20% rate applies to charters starting in France or Monaco; crew gratuity is customary at 5–15% of the fee (MYBA guidance).
- International Yachts Charter & Brokerage — Monaco Yacht Show 2026 charter rates — retrieved 2026-09-05
- Monaco Boats (The S Collection) — Yacht charter prices in Monaco — retrieved 2026-09-05
- Vital Charters — What's included in a yacht charter fee: MYBA contract (2026), survey of MYBA listings — retrieved 2026-09-05
- service-public.gouv.fr — Taux de TVA (fiche F23567, "Vérifié le 18 juin 2025") — retrieved 2026-09-05
- Gouvernement Princier de Monaco — monentreprise.gouv.mc, TVA — retrieved 2026-09-05
Rates retrieved 2026-09-05.
Which harbour and anchorages does a yacht use in Sanremo?
Portosole
- From Port Hercule
- 17 nm (straight line) · 1 h 25 min at 12 knots · 51 min at 20 knots
- Berths
- not published
- Anchorages
- Portosole · Baia di Sanremo
Distances are computed between the OpenStreetMap positions of Port Hercule and Portosole; the actual coastal route is a little longer.
- OpenStreetMap / Nominatim — retrieved 2026-09-06
- OpenStreetMap / Nominatim — retrieved 2026-09-06
When is the best time to charter a yacht to Sanremo?
Recommended season: May–September.
The season runs May to September, with the warmest water and the most settled sea from June to September — which matters for the passage to Sanremo. Crossing into Italy adds only simple formalities, handled by the captain. Monaco Grand Prix week (late May) and the Monaco Yacht Show (23–26 September 2026) pull departure rates toward high season; June and September outside show week are the most comfortable windows.
- Monaco Yacht Show — official site (home + billetterie) — retrieved 2026-09-05
Frequently asked questions
Do we need anything to cruise from Monaco to Italy?
Only simple cross-border formalities, which we handle entirely for you. Sanremo, about 17 nautical miles east, is the first Italian port of call, and the transition between French and Italian waters is completely seamless on a managed charter, with all the paperwork taken care of in advance.
How far is Sanremo from Monaco by yacht?
About 17 nautical miles in a straight line — a comfortable run east, under an hour and a half at 12 knots, that makes Sanremo a natural overnight and the staging point for a longer Italian cruise toward Portofino and the Cinque Terre. It is the first true taste of Italy on a coast that changes fast.
Can a superyacht berth at Portosole?
Portosole is the marina in Sanremo designed for visiting yachts and is used by large units on the Ligurian run; we confirm the berth for the size of yacht and the dates when the charter is booked, and anchor off the town as the fallback in settled weather.
How much does a yacht charter from Monaco to Sanremo cost?
From the published Monaco brackets: a day from €1,500 (day boat, excluding fuel) to €10,000 and up for a superyacht; a week from €25,000 – €65,000 for 20–30 m to €280,000 – €800,000+ above 45 m, exclusive of APA (25–35%) and VAT (20%).
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